Author's Note: Heyyo everyone, back once again! I've had this chapter done for a while actually but I have admittedly been a little lazy with the editing. I just didn't feel like doing it, but I have powered through and it is finally edited to the best of my abilities. (Can't catch everything, you know?) Anywho this chapter is more of a filler I would say. Nothing too groundbreaking, but a few interesting things sprinkled in here and there that I will continue to explore and write on.
Irish Girl: Glad my story has caught your interest! :)
Flaresouth: I am so happy you love the story so far. While my story is heavily inspired by OUAT and builds off of it not everything will be the same, especially when it comes down to the villain so to say and how it ends. That is why it is totally fine to read my story if you haven't seen the show. While that would make for an amazing story and plot twist, that isn't what is happening here hahaha. That actually isn't even how it happens in OUAT, but I have my own completely different ending I would be surprised if anyone guessed right now. If you would like to keep guessing though I am all ears, I enjoy the speculations.
Alex Tsukino: Poor Camilo indeed.
The Enchanted Forest…
Outside The Encanto…
24 Years Ago…
Running through a forest is hard enough as it is, but running through a forest after clearing out your hiding spot, everything important hanging off your back in a sack—almost impossible.
Still, Pepa runs ahead dodging trees and low hanging branches trying hard to snatch her back by the cape, the bag behind her weighing her down while the items clinked together with every bounce. She spent a few days hiding out like her siblings and her usually do after each drop trying to lay low from the Queen's guards. She figured the noise had died down enough to make it back safely to where the three actually lived, and she didn't want to worry her siblings for more than she had to. Julieta would for sure come looking for her eventually if she stayed away too long, the oldest always being protective of Bruno and her ever since childhood although Pepa had to admit, it was always her brother and her getting into trouble wasn't it?
The thought made her smile because while they no longer had their mamá, the miracle, or casita, the triplets made it out together and managed to stay by each other's sides. It's what kept them going, how they managed to evade the Evil Queen for so long. The only person missing is their mamá who is imprisoned by the queen herself. She and her hermanos have plans to get her back though. Plans to rescue the whole Encanto, but in order to do that they knew it would take more than just them, but it was hard finding people who wanted to risk going head to head with a magical bruja.
They had heard whispers of a group of men who lived somewhere in the Enchanted Forest outside of the Encanto, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, and that mainly included stealing from the Evil Queen. It was during the planned raids that they would try and learn any information about this group to hopefully one day search them out and ask for help, but it has proven to be a hard task when the men were always on the move and their campground kept secret amongst themselves.
Really Pepa just wanted their help to rescue their mamá. She hated to say it, but she could care less about saving the magic or becoming a royal again. It was never something she wanted to voice to her siblings because she knew how it sounded in her own head; cold and heartless when a whole kingdom is suffering as much as they are. She loved the people and missed her friends even, but it felt like there was only so much fighting you could do before there was no one left to fight for.
And being on the run for…how long has it been? Months? A year? Pepa honestly couldn't say, because to her it felt like they'd lived in hiding for eternity. Being on the run for so long didn't help to brighten the already tiny spark of hope she had left resting inside of her. Pepa was with her siblings to the end, she knew that much, because as much as she would want to flee with their mamá and avoid the risk of losing everything she could never leave Julieta and Bruno behind. She couldn't take the chance of never being able to see them again because they meant the world to each other.
It's why she's traveling the long distance to get back to them on foot even if her legs burn from running so much. It's why she continued on with that drop so they could get the supplies they needed to survive. It's why—
Pepa let out a sudden sharp scream, the sack ripping out of her hands as her body suddenly flew upwards towards the sky. Her heart hammered in her chest as her mind raced to catch up with her. What the hell was that?
She found herself hanging from a tree, a trap made of rope keeping her above ground with an annoyingly large amount of leaves stuffed under her. She tried to turn but her feet had nothing solid to step on, instead buried in the leaves that scraped at her legs and poked out of the bottom of the trap. If Julieta were here Pepa definitely would have lost the bet that Bruno and her were never watching where they were going, always tripping and fumbling in places they shouldn't have been.
A laugh sounded out from down below her and when a familiar man walked into view, a coy smile plastered on his face, she shouted, agitated. "Let me go!"
"I told you I'd find you."
"Let. Me. Go!" Pepa really didn't have time for this. She had to get back to her siblings or else they would worry, and honestly, she was worried about them. They had never been separated for more time in their life than they had this past week, and this…this stupid prince, who shouldn't even care if he had a few gems and jewelry go missing, was interfering with their reunion.
"No matter where you go, I'll always find you."
Pepa scoffed, unimpressed. It wasn't hard to find someone, it's just a matter of if you were looking too hard or not, or in the right place—it's why finding the merry men hasn't been an easy task.
"So," she continued, a deadpan expression on her face. "Is this the only way you can pick up a woman? By entrapping her."
The man crossed his arms amused. "It's the only way to catch thieving scum."
"Huh, aren't you a real Príncipe Encantador."
"I have a real name, you know. It's Félix."
"I don't care, Prince Charming suits you. Now let me down, encantador."
He chuckled while inching forward a few steps. "I'll release you once you return the leather pouch with my jewels."
"Not the jewelry type."
"Indeed. I've noticed."
Pepa narrowed her eyes at him, bringing her face closer to the rope. "What is that supposed to mean? Are you insulting me!?"
"Quite right, lo siento, how dare I cast aspersions on the person who robbed me! Where are my jewels?"
"I sold them." She smiled at him, smug.
"What?!"
Pepa rolled her eyes. Of course, just like a royal to worry about the few jewels stolen then focus on the plenty of riches they had back at home. It may have sounded ridiculous coming from her having been born into royalty herself, but her mamá had never been one to worry about fancy jewelry or anything like that, so neither had she or her siblings. It was always about giving back to their kingdom, using their gifts to help out the best the three could. They had crowns, each a locket with their papà's picture in it, and that's about all they cared for.
"Why do you care, don't you have a palace full of treasures?"
"These were special. Among them were a pair of golden earrings that belonged to mi mamá and I need them back now. So I'm going to cut you down and you are going to help me get them from whoever you sold them to."
"Mhmm, and why would I do that?"
Félix smiled back, one Pepa didn't like. It left a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Because you don't want me to tell anyone who you really are." Félix reached into his jacket and pulled out a piece of paper, unfolding it and turning it around so she could see whatever was on it. "Princess Pepa Madrigal, wanted by the Evil Queen. Help me get my earrings back or I'll turn you over to her forces." He paused, lips curving as his eyebrows raised. He had the upper hand and she knew it. "And I have a feeling the queen isn't going to be as…charming, as I am."
Damn it.
Damndamndamn.
He won, Pepa could admit it. (At least to herself anyway.) What other choice did she really have? It was either be turned over to the queen, the exact person she is trying to avoid, or stay stuck up here until however long it takes her to rot away or have her siblings come and find her, and neither idea sounded pleasant—to be honest, her situation was rather embarrassing, so maybe dying up here before her siblings found her would be a blessing. They would never let her live it down if she made it out alive.
Pepa sighed, mentally beating herself up as all of this could have been avoided had she just paid attention to the ground as Julieta told her to do time and time again. "Fine, I'll help you. I wouldn't want to stand in the way of a man and his earrings."
Félix smiled and nodded, pulling his sword out and cutting the rope keeping her dangling in the air with no warning.
Pepa let out a scream.
Mirabel found the view outside her room to be very peaceful. The room faced the front with the parking lot taking up a chunk of it, but the greenery of the forest and flowers livened the place up and made the fresh morning air drifting through the window smell sweet and natural, something she wasn't totally used to back at Agatha's. It was one of the things she appreciated about the small town so far.
She got up earlier than she would have liked mainly because the light knocking on her door wouldn't go away no matter how quiet she tried to be, so she begrudgingly left the warmth of the covers to see who wanted her so badly at…she squinted at the clock on the nightstand.
Oh, eight in the morning.
When she opened the door she hadn't come face to face with the person she was expecting, and that person was Camilo because who else would be knocking so persistently on her door? She found her answer by craning her neck down, a smiling Antonio dressed clad in some yellow overalls, a white shirt, and of course, his red handkerchief tied around his neck albeit very loose and uneven—no doubt his own handy work.
"¡Buenos días Mirabel!" He sounded so sweet and sincere, his smile already brightening up her day. He probably had no clue he woke her up and she wasn't about to tell him.
"Good morning to you too Antonio. Did you sleep well?"
"Uh huh, sí. The birds even greeted me again, did they greet you?"
"Mmm, no, but maybe they will another day."
"Oh," he looked down to the floor and rocked side to side shyly. It kind of reminded her of the sheriff in a way. "Can I…can I come in?"
How could she say no to him?
"Sure, just give me one second to change. Alright?"
"Okay!"
She shut the door and picked something new to wear, a blouse and skirt, and then let Antonio come bounding in with all the excitement a kid his age could have at such an early hour—even if Mirabel herself is a morning person. "What are you going to do today?" His voice was loud and clear as he investigated what she brought up to the room with her, although it wasn't like she owned much being a foster kid.
"Well I don't know yet, I'll probably head into town and do something while Camilo's in school."
"I wish I could've gone to school with him. Mami says it's because I'm not five yet, but I'll be five soon and then I can go. Did you get to go to school?"
"Sí, I'm in high school."
"Really? Then why aren't you in school now like Camilo?"
Well…considering she's in another state, that's why.
"I'm on vacation where I go to school."
Yeah, that's probably good enough for a four-year-old.
"Oh okay. Hey, look!" Antonio spotted the big storybook sitting on the edge of the bed and opened it, flipping through the pages until he landed on a certain chapter. "Camilo's read this to me tons of times. I like listening to the stories. My favorite one is how my mamá and papá worked together to get her earrings back. Will you read it to me? Pleaseeee?"
Mirabel didn't have a choice, did she?
"Oh alright," she sat on the bed and put the storybook on her lap as Antonio climbed up and snuggled into her side. She started to read from the page the book was opened to.
The Enchanted Forest…
Outside The Encanto…
24 years ago…
Pepa carefully watched Félix as their one day hike to get his mamá's earrings slowly turned to two, the pair making camp in a nearby cave the night before, Pepa's amused smile plastered on her face at the surprise to the prince that she could light a fire in just under ten seconds all by herself. If only he knew she could do it in one had she still had her powers.
A part of her had considered fleeing in the middle of the night when he was fast asleep, waking up in the middle of the forest to find out he had been duped. It was quite comical to think about in a way but the bigger piece of her heart won over and she stayed trying to get the sleep she knew she would need to face the people she had sold the earrings to.
Pepa could sympathize with the fact those earrings she had stolen and sold were important, even if she hadn't known the sentimental value before, because the necklace that is currently wrapped around her neck with her papá's picture meant a lot to her, especially now that she couldn't see the original photo anymore. If anything were to happen to it, say stolen and sold, well she would be a lot less chill than Félix has been thus far. Staying seemed only fair enough since she had been the one to steal them in the first place, including the fact he wouldn't have the first clue on where to go if she did ditch him meaning those earrings would be as good as gone.
So by the time he woke up, quite startled too as if he forgot where he was until he saw the missing space next to him, only once again to be surprised as she sat on the opposite side of him sorting out different edible berries she collected for the pair to share for breakfast. She had laughed at the fact he shot up and then raised an eyebrow in her direction as if his expectations were for her to leave, but he was putting trust out that she wouldn't cross him over once again. He hadn't said anything about the fact she stayed though, but instead jokingly questioned if she was trying to poison him for payback for trapping her in that net yesterday and then cutting her down with no warning. She laughed after taking on a deadpan tone as she said maybe, popping a berry into her mouth and slowly chewing it for the effect—something Bruno would have been proud of if he had been there.
That was the icebreaker they both needed to settle back into a routine. They ate, made sure the fire was out, then carried on their way. The first hour or so was spent in silence, the only time either one was talking was Félix to make sure they were heading in the right direction, Pepa huffing in annoyance while telling him time and time again they were—that where she had sold them wasn't some marketplace in a village but a rather secluded bridge in the middle of the woods few people knew about. That piece of information looked to intrigue Félix even if he didn't ask for more details like others would have. Actually, that seemed to be a key feature of his, he didn't push for more information but rather let her tell him whatever she wanted and trusted that however much it was was important enough. It almost would have been sweet if they weren't caught in the situation where she had sold the most important thing to him.
It's why she finds herself studying him as they walk, glancing over ever so often to see his stance totally calm and relaxed each time, almost as if he thinks he's taking a lovely stroll through the forest on a free day and not on a mission to retrieve something of value. She wants to know why he's being nice, why he can act as if he doesn't carry the weight royalty usually presses on to you. How can he have such a sunny personality in such a cruel world?
She wants to ask him too, even opens her mouth to do so, but before she can get a single word out there is a snap of a twig behind them. She doesn't see what happens next but can certainly picture it before she drops to the floor with a dull throbbing starting at the back of her head. It takes her a moment to come to her senses after being hit with…well she isn't sure with what but finds it had to have at least been metal for it to hurt as much as it does. When Pepa's vision finally stops swimming she finds herself quickly being yanked and dragged by her right arm which startles her, but not as much as the dagger that would have entered her skull had she not been moved away that lands in the dirt.
When she looks up it's Félix standing over her, a scratch bleeding on his cheek this time not by her doing. He isn't paying attention to her as he waves his sword battling what she can now tell are guards for the Evil Queen, finally overpowering one and moving on to the next. There's only one other guard left of the three, the one that could have killed her if Félix hadn't been quick enough, and he's still struggling to remove his dagger from the ground.
Pepa jumps into action and uses her full force to kick him down. The guard falls pulling the dagger with him. He's quick to recover, both now standing mere inches apart in a fighting stance. The guard swings the dagger and Pepa jumps back, the knife just catching her arm. She hisses in pain but stands her ground. The guard is heavy on his feet and slow in his movements more likely from older age which is the complete opposite of her. She smiles smugly knowing she has the upper hand. When he swings again she slides out of the way, his attack propelling him forward. Pepa uses that time to kick him down before he can recover and he topples to the floor, the dagger flying out of his hand so he can attempt to catch his fall. She gives him another kick before he can get up and he's unconscious just like that. She snatches the dagger off the floor and tucks it away looking up just in time to catch Félix bringing down the last guard. He tucks his sword away and soon enough he turns to her and their eyes meet. She isn't sure what he sees but his furrowed eyebrows make him look concerned, and suddenly he is rushing over to her probably faster than he should be.
"Pepa are you okay?" She doesn't say anything at first, only stares, which only seems to worry him more as his hands hold her head and he tilts it examining something. His eyes then roam down and widen at the gash on her arm. "You're bleeding."
That's enough to bring her back. "I-I'm fine. It's nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing, and your head…he hit you pretty hard. You have a bruise forming and—"
"You saved me." Pepa sort of just blurts it out, catching them both off guard.
Félix smiles in return. "Well, it seemed like the honorable thing to do. But, it looks like I didn't do a good enough job."
"I'm fine, really. You saved me, I could have been dead right now if you hadn't pulled me away in time. I promise I'm okay. You did plenty." He did, really, even if a part of her wants to tell him she doesn't need to be put in the role of damsel in distress when she can protect herself just fine, but she knows when to bite her tongue and accept the fact that sometimes you can't do everything. She doesn't want to seem ungrateful either when she in fact very much is for the save.
"You're bleeding too," she notes, using her finger to gently touch his cheek.
"Oh that, it's nothing." They both laugh at his response as they stare into each other's eyes, their faces mere inches apart. They stay like that for only a few seconds but to Pepa, it feels like forever. Suddenly they both snap back into reality realizing at the same time just how close they are to one another. His hands are still resting on her shoulders as her hands grip his wrists. They pull away from each other at the same time, her cheeks flushing red as he clears his throat and runs a hand over the top of his head.
"We should clean up, there's a river nearby we can use."
"Sure, right," he agrees. "Please, lead the way."
Pepa nods and leads the way through the forest retracing her steps from her past journey to make it to the river. Eventually, a clearing comes into view and they step out of the safety the woods provide into the open area. There isn't a soul around except for them and a lone deer drinking some water who runs away when he sees them approaching.
Félix pulls out two thin clothes, ones that look too fancy to mess up, and dips them into the water keeping one for himself and handing the other to her. Papa thanks him and gets to work on clearing up the gash on her arm. It's still slightly bleeding although it isn't as bad as before, and she manages to get the wound and the skin around it mostly clean and free of blood before pulling out a roll of bandages from her satchel. It's sort of a struggle trying to wrap it tightly with one hand and before she can protest Felix takes it out of her hand and does it for her.
She thanks him once again, stuffing the extra bandages back into her bag, and takes a closer look at his cheek. He managed to miss cleaning it properly as a result of not being able to see it, so before she quite knows what she is doing she asks him for his cloth and dips it into the water. She gently dabs it on the wound, apologizes as he slightly winces, wipes away any excess blood he missed, and makes sure it's clean enough so it won't get infected. He smiles graciously which makes her smile back.
After that, they both take a few minutes for themselves. They stand back to back, feet apart, mostly cupping water into their hands and sipping it while filling up the water pouches that hang off their sides. When they both turn to one another at the same exact time Pepa knows he's just as ready to go as she is, so she squints at the forest line until she recognizes a key feature and heads in that direction. Félix follows right behind her and they head back into the woods with a different silence lulling over them this time, one not as tense and awkward. In fact, it's odd, crazy even, considering she found this man annoying only 24 hours ago; his smug smile grating on her every nerve as she tried her hardest not to smack it off his charming face.
Now his smile is kind of endearing, his company a lot different compared to her two siblings—the only other people she ever spends time with anymore. Julieta is kind, always trying to offer support but never accepting it in return, while Bruno is shy and awkward, always stuttering and stumbling in places he shouldn't—both with his feet and words. Félix is the complete opposite, sweet but not at all afraid to speak his mind. Helps and receives. Confident and humorous. It's a breath of fresh air in a way, and it all confuses her because she doesn't know what to do with this newly found information; has no clue how to process it all.
They are completely opposite of one another, one is the sun the other the moon, and yet somehow despite what brought them together in the first place, her quite literally robbing him, it seems to be something of the past despite the event happening only a week ago, themselves only knowing each other for less than two days. There is something…something there that wasn't there before that is now and she can't pinpoint what, which makes Pepa want to flee and avoid uncovering it at all costs. They were two people merely dealing with one another for one cause only and then he saved her life which was rather shocking because she doesn't know if she would save the person who stole her necklace. A part of herself says he only saved her because she was the only one with the knowledge of how to get to the bridge where she sold his mamá's earrings and if she died he would never know. But then all she can picture is the way he had looked at her after they had fought the guards. The way he held her head in his hands and looked over her injuries. It all told a different story, one that couldn't be possible because they only just met and knew nothing about one another.
Then, as if the Enchanted Forest is taunting her, their silence is broken by Félix. "So, tell me, how come the Evil Queen seems to be so enamored by you?"
The question takes her by surprise at first, but she supposes maybe he deserves to know at least a reason why he was attacked and probably now has a target on his back. "Well, she thinks I ruined her life when we were kids."
"Did you?"
"I want to say it's complicated, but…yes. I did ruin her life."
"Sounds hard to believe that a mistake made by one young niña could cause someone to do such heinous things."
Pepa sighed, trying to repress the memories. "You would think, but you have no idea."
Who would ever have thought the best part about children could be the most dangerous…
"And what about you?" Pepa asks, trying to change the subject and turn it around on him. She isn't quite ready to recount the events that essentially created the Evil Queen. Félix can tell, or at least she hopes he does because he obliges by answering her instead of asking another question about her own past.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been watching you, and although you are a prince, the way you act and talk says otherwise. It's like you are a commoner trying to fit in with royalty and trust me I would know."
"I don't know what you are talking about." He smiled at her, but she could see the fear dancing behind his eyes. Pepa's right, she knows she is after being born into royalty herself and dealing with them her entire life, but clearly, the reason behind why must be a concerning one. She should respect the fact that he doesn't want to talk about it but she can't help but push on.
"You know, coming yourself to find your mamá's earring instead of sending someone else to…not arresting me for robbing you or having my head for it. In fact, saving my life."
Félix laughed. "Do people actually take people's heads?"
She laughed too. "When we were just niños, a rumor went around the Encanto that two kingdoms over, ruled by King Felipe, well…he apparently cut off the head of his cook for serving him soup that was way too hot. Said he was trying to kill him by burning his throat even though he was the one who requested the soup to be made that way. The story made all the niños run screaming whenever he visited us."
"Sounds like good times."
She smiled, reminiscing. That had been the best of times with her friends and siblings. The triplets would find out through eavesdropping who would be visiting the castle and then report back to their group in town. The eight of them would sit in a circle and whisper about everything King Felipe did back in his kingdom.
(He'll throw you in the dungeon for coughing in his presence.)
(I heard he forces everyone to give him presents, and the one who gives the worst gift meets an ending so bad no one has lived to tell the tale.)
(My older brother says he feasts on the souls of children.)
Then usually his carriage would drive right past them, he'd wave, and everyone would scatter screaming they wanted to keep their souls. It was quite funny to think back on because it really was just kids being kids; their imaginations flying high and ignoring all the facts. It was later on when her and her siblings had more responsibility to uphold that they found out King Felipe was nothing like the stories, but a very kind and gentle man who had the most interesting stories to tell. And he most certainly did not cut the head off his cook.
"So who is the 'we' in the story?"
"Huh?" She frowned, not quite understanding.
"You said when we were younger."
Oh.
Oh.
She had let it slip she had siblings without actually telling him, although she supposes it didn't really matter when all their faces are plastered everywhere to see. "Mi hermano y hermana, we are triplets."
"I did not realize you had siblings, but it makes sense why you were in such a hurry yesterday. Are you all wanted by the Evil Queen?"
"Sí."
"Is that why you stole my jewels then, because you are on the run and need the money, not just because you're some thief."
"Right again, Charming. Don't you have someone you need to get back to? Parents? Siblings?"
"Well I was an only child growing up and my mamá passed away a few years ago. I'm actually set to get married."
"Married?" That is…news to her, and yet it totally makes sense. The day Pepa had stolen those jewels there had been a woman in the carriage. She hadn't been focused on her all that well but her scream could definitely be heard. It's why Félix caught up to her so fast and was able to knock her off her horse. This means these earrings they were chasing after…oh.
"So that's why you need your mamá's earrings so bad, you plan on giving them to the person you are engaged to."
"Sí, it's what my mamá would have wanted. Her name is Lily, the girl I am set to marry. She's very kind. I think my mamá would have liked her."
Pepa frowns a little at that, because to her it sounds like he's trying to convince himself the woman he is going to marry is the one for him. It looks like he has something else to say so she stays quiet and lets him speak.
"My papá loves her, and he says it will be good for our kingdom too."
Pepa can't contain the snort that comes out immediately after he says that because there it is. It now makes perfect sense. He gives her a raised eyebrow in response as if he has no clue what set her off and maybe he doesn't. "You are in an arranged marriage!"
"What? No! No, it's not an arranged marriage. I chose to marry Lily."
"'It will be good for the Kingdom' is what you said. Only people who aren't marrying for love say something like that."
"Hey! I love Lily, I love her."
"Almost every royal I knew married out of duty, not love. And every single person said the same exact thing. It will be good for the kingdom, but it never really is. In the end, everyone suffers the consequences; the kingdom, the couple, and the Children."
"Well, you don't know me or Lily." He sighed, pushing past her and walking a distance away. Dammit, of course she couldn't keep her mouth shut. She pushed and pushed and now she's created a tense atmosphere akin to the one they started out with when he caught her. Honestly she doesn't understand why she even cares. After today they'll never see each other again. He wants his mamá's earrings and she wants to get back to her siblings. That's it.
She takes a deep breath and stops just behind Félix in front of a stone bridge that hangs above a deep drop.
They have finally arrived at their destination.
Much to Antonio's disappointment, Mirabel had to cut the story short when Lucía came looking for him. He begged her for just five more minutes but she explained that they only had time for breakfast before having to go to the diner to help his father out. He hopped off the bed pouting and walked out past his mother which both women couldn't help but chuckle at. Antonio was cute, even mad.
Grabbing her satchel Mirabel shut her door making sure it was locked and then Lucía and her walked downstairs together. "Sorry if he woke you up," Lucía spoke. "He tends to be an early riser like his papá, but me…not so much."
"Oh, I'm actually an early riser too so I didn't mind, honest. I enjoyed being able to read. It actually reminds me of when I used to read Peter Pan to the other fost—I mean t-to the little kids that lived next door to me."
Right, because it wasn't obvious at all that she was lying.
Mirabel would honestly facepalm right now if it weren't for Lucía giving her an I know there's more to the story look similar to when they first met at the diner. Just like last time she didn't say anything and simply let it roll past them smiling instead. "I was watching you read to Antonio for a bit."
Mirabel felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment at that. She definitely hadn't heard the woman approach being too caught up in the story with the little boy. "Oh, y-you did?"
"He loves that book. Camilo usually reads it to him when the pair get together. Antonio is enthralled for hours, always giggling and gasping at the stories despite having heard them multiple times. He seems to enjoy it just as much with you. Thank you for that."
Mirabel smiled at her, both finally reaching the first floor. "No problem Señora, I enjoy Antonio's company."
"I am surprised that Camilo gave you the book. He never lets it out of his sight. You must be really close. Are you sure you two only just met?"
Well, that depended on who you asked. To Camilo it would be no, they've known each other their entire lives or were supposed to without this curse. To her, at least realistically, yes, they did just meet. It just so happens they get along great for people who only just met two days ago. Lucía didn't need to know all that though and besides Camilo definitely doesn't want that out in the open as of now. "Sí Señora I'm sure."
"Hmm, alright."
Mirabel sighed in relief that Lucía finally seemed to drop the subject and turned to leave only for her to be suddenly dragged in the other direction. "No no, come. I made breakfast for all of us."
All of us?
She followed Lucía into the kitchen and saw Antonio sitting at a small four chair table with three plates of breakfast on top. He grinned when he saw them, back to being his sunny self, and was shoveling a mouthful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. "Come eat Mirabel, it's good!" he tried to say, his words muffled by the food. Mira giggled, unlike Lucía who frowned and chastised the boy for speaking with his mouth full. They both took a seat next to Antonio and began to eat.
For a few minutes, it was just Lucía and Antonio chatting and eating while Mirabel was content in just watching the mother-and-son duo as she picked at her own plate. She couldn't help but think that that should have been her…or she supposes that had been her once upon a time. She too had been four years old sitting happily next to her mother, her mom smiling as she soaked up every word Mirabel is sure came tumbling out of her mouth at lightning speed. For some reason her mind drifts back to sitting on that counter, flour being thrown at one another, and…wait, why can she suddenly hear the giggles of other little girls now?
Yeah, she was sitting on the counter and…and…
"Mamá I think someone's behind the door."
"Huh, I think so too mi corazón. What do you say, should we invite them to our little game?"
Woah.
That was new.
Before she could only picture herself sitting on the counter with the woman but now…now she can remember just a little more to the memory.
"Aww mamá, my dress is ruined now."
"It's alright mi amor, a little water and it will come right out. It's okay to have fun, you don't have to look perfect all the time."
"Well I think your dress looks better that way, Isa!"
"Yeah, what Mira said," agreed the other girl.
Isa.
Isa.
Isa?
Who's that?
She can't ever recall knowing someone who went by Isa, and from what she can piece together a sister no less, possibly two. If that is the case Mirabel isn't sure if that thought should make her feel better or not. It means she has two siblings out there who are living their lives with no families either. Are they in the system too? Did they age out? Do they remember her or each other, having a family, with loving parents? Or do their memories hide behind blurry faces and names just out of reach also, walking around and wondering if every person they pass has a possibility of being part of that family they can never quite recall? The outcomes seem endless, her family who knows where, spread out, and she doesn't even get to know why. Why was she the one left on the side of the road all alone? If she had siblings, and her parents really did have to send her away not because they didn't love her but because danger was lurking nearby, why not send her away with a sibling so she didn't have to grow up with no family? The thoughts are overwhelming when there are just so many what if's and new questions piling up on top of all the answers she still doesn't have yet and may never get to the bottom of.
"Hey Mirabel, are you still with us?"
"Huh?" Mirabel looked up, snapping out of her haze, and awkwardly smiled. She honestly had no clue Lucía had even been talking to her until now.
"I asked where you are from. We don't really get visitors from out of town."
"Oh," Mirabel thought for a moment, trying to decide how to answer. It was probably safe enough to tell Lucía where she was from but not the fact she is a foster kid. If caught there is a high chance she will be sent back and that wouldn't help her any more than the past seven years have. She also doesn't want to lie either, not to someone who has already been more caring towards her in the past day than some of the foster families she has lived with in the past for months on end. A stretched truth probably wouldn't hurt. "I live in a smaller town in New York, but I mean, not as small as here."
"New York? What brings you all the way out here?"
"Well…my…my tío lives in a town not too far from Storybrooke. Almost right outside. I'm staying with him for the time being. Sometimes I like to travel which he's okay with it as long as I keep in touch."
"Oh, that sounds like fun. What is your uncle's name? What does he do for a living?"
"His name is Mario and he owns a pizzeria. It's kind of similar to the diner." Lucía hummed, picking her glass of orange juice up and taking a sip then setting it back down.
"That must be nice."
"It is, although between you and me I think I prefer the blue theme of your diner over the red he chose."
Lucía chuckled. "Well, it certainly is nice though, to be honest, I would have preferred the color yellow."
Mirabel frowned a little. It had been obvious from the whole family's clothing choices that warm colors had been more their thing, but why not make it a part of the business you would create and have to work at every day? Why a color you weren't really fond of?
"Really? Why did you choose the color blue then?"
For a moment Lucía seemed like she was lost in thought. As if she was trying to recall an answer that slipped her mind. Eventually, she settled with what looked like the only reasonable thing she could provide. "I don't know. Blue just felt…right."
"Oh." Mirabel didn't say anything else, mainly because she didn't know what to say. Sometimes that's just life. You go with something not because it's necessarily what you would have wanted, but because it's the option that makes the most sense.
"You know, I didn't always want to be a cook." Lucía continued, surprising Mirabel. The woman seemed so at ease in the kitchen that you would have thought it was what she always dreamed of doing.
"Growing up I wanted to be a meteorologist."
"What's a meterlogist mami?"
Lucía laughed, softly pinching Antonio's cheek making the boy giggle himself. "It's a meteorologist, Toñito, and their job is to study the weather so they can tell people what the weather will look like in the upcoming days so they can be prepared."
"Wow, that sounds like fun mamá. How come you didn't do that?"
Mirabel leaned forward in her sit, curious to know why too.
"Well, I was going to. I went to Storybrooke community college for two years because I wanted to be close to home and help your Abeula out with the diner, but halfway through my second year there your Abeula passed away unexpectedly and it was either become a Meteorologist or close the diner, and I couldn't do that. The diner has been in the family for generations and it was one of the last things I had of my mamá, so I quit school, saved up the money to renovate the diner like she always wanted to do, and that was that."
"But mami you still like cooking, right?
"Of course mi bebé, and I was very lucky to find your papá because he loves to cook too. He is way better than me though, possibly even as good as Abuela used to be."
Huh, well that was…enlightening? Mirabel supposes that maybe there really is more to people here than she originally thought, and the fact that Lucía wanted to be a meteorologist of all things after Camilo mentioned her supposed gift was being able to control the weather with her emotions didn't escape her. But didn't that just further confirm that someone based these characters off the townspeople? It doesn't mean that everyone is cursed. If at best it may be a really big coincidence.
Mirabel knows Camilo said his kindergarten teacher claimed the book popped up out of nowhere, but there had to be more to the story. Things just don't magically appear out of thin air. Maybe his teacher was mistaken or didn't want to tell a younger Camilo the full story behind its origins. Had he tried going back and asking more questions? Did he even attempt to track down the original author? Mirabel doesn't think so, considering Camilo is dead set on the book possibly being magical itself. Maybe this is what they should start with, investigate the book and where it came from.
With her plans for the day now set, Mirabel finished off her plate and put it in the dishwasher as directed by Lucía. It was almost 9 am as the three headed out the door.
"You're going to come by the diner with Camilo later, right?"
Mirabel smiled down at the little boy. He reminded her a lot of the little kids back at Agatha's, only minus the screaming. In a way she kind of missed them. After all, they are all she's known for the past few years. "Of course Toñito, we need our third partner in crime."
He giggled, jumping into her arms and hugging her.
"Ay papi, I like Mirabel just as much as you do, but if we don't leave now your papa will never forgive us."
"Coming mamá, bye Mira! Don't forget to bring the book." Mirabel watched as Antonio hurried down the stairs and to the open backdoor of Lucía's car. He climbed into his car seat buckling the straps all by himself and then waved up at Mirabel with a toothy grin. She chuckled and waved back, watching as the car pulled out of the driveway and started down the road.
She blew a breath out walking down the front steps herself, shifting the rather heavy storybook from one arm to the other. There were still another few hours until Camilo got out of school, so really she couldn't do anything related to Operation Toucan, as they so called it, because she needed Camilo's help with the first task. Mirabel needed to find some way to fill up that time and she thinks she knows how she'll spend it as she once again looks into the beautiful garden that sits just a few feet away from her. There was a florist shop in town if she recalls right. Maybe she can look for something small for Lucía as a way to say thank you for being so welcoming.
Knowing her first destination Mirabel slides into the yellow buggy and places the book and her satchel in the backseat. She makes sure everything is okay before starting the car up and backing out of the driveway. She glances once more at the garden filled with various flower colors, but she can't help but zero in on the pink patch closest to her. For a moment the feeling of something being on the tip of her tongue but not knowing what lingers, and it's so frustrating because it feels like something she should know automatically. Finally though, and maybe even surprisingly, the thought finally comes to her as she exits the lot.
Isa hated pink dresses.
Author's Note: That wraps up chapter 5. As I said not too much happens here, only two or three things really will be touched on and grow as the story continues. One is obviously from past Pepa and Félix because that story will go further as well as everything Pepa was saying at the beginning and the other thing I'll let you guess, although I feel like it should be obvious lol. I have a little done of chapter 6 but it could take a bit before it's out. I have work to catch up on in my Computers class as well as ANOTHER essay to start in my English, on top of me officially starting that job I mentioned before. So I probably won't update in October again but there definitely will be an update in the first half of November, I promise. So far I can say that next chapter we see a familiar face and Operation Toucan is a go! :)
Oh, and yeah, I forgot I can sort of draw and decided to then go ahead and do some sketches of the Madrigals. I've done everyone we have met so far dressed in the outfits I either explained or pictured them in. I will continue to draw them as they are introduced. Hope you like it! Let me know if you want me to draw the characters in any other outfits or scenes from my story. I would be happy to give it a shot! Obviously I can't put the photo here like I can on Ao3, but here is a link if you would like to see it.
hay-389/699156805250580480/my-encanto-once-upon-a-time-inspired-au-madrigal?source=share
Okay the link doesn't work for me but I will leave it in case it does for anyone else. If you would like to see the photo search up my tumblr hay-389 or you can look up this story on Ao3 where I am hay389 there as well. Go to chapter 5 and at the very end the drawing is there!
Spanish Words:
Niños = Children
Encantador = Charming
Bruja = Witch
Principe = Prince
Lo siento = I'm sorry
Buenos días = Good morning
Sí = Yes
Niña = Girl
Mi corazón = My heart
Mi amor = My love
Mi bebé = My baby